lay-up missed by mclemore. door is still open but time is winding down. just not there, and they look like tired jump shots. they're coming off the front iron almost always. >> clark: it's a combination of fatigue and the fact you haven't seen the ball go in. that can deflate your adrenalin as well when you have had such an extended drought. >> tim: if you didn't think kansas was one of the elite teams this year. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] goodyear. for drivers like these who demand the most from their tires. and everything we've learned making these tires inspires what we roll into yours. goodyear. more driven. we're at walmart

with the simmons family. how much is your current phone bill? four sixteen seventy six a month! okay, come with me -- we're gonna save you money. with straight talk at walmart, you get unlimited talk, text and data for only $45 a month per phone. would we get the same coverage? same coverage on america's best networks. you saved $146.76 by switching to straight talk. awesome! now you can afford to share your allowance with me. get the season's hottest smartphones like the samsung galaxy s2 and get straight talk with unlimited data for just $45 a month -- from america's gift headquarters. walmart. ♪ ♪

>> tim: tonight on cbs begins with back-to-back new episodes of "made in jersey" followed by "48 hours" tonight, only cbs.

the captioning on this program is provided as an independent service of captionmax, which is solely responsible for the accurate and complete transcription of program content. cbs, its parent and affiliated companies, and their respective agents and divisions, are not responsible for the accuracy, or completeness of any transcription, or for any errors in transcription. closed captioning provided by cbs sports division >> clark: give kansas credit. they've done a nice job taking away the primary option for ohio state which is the leading scorer for the buckeyes, deshaun thompson. >> tim: blocked away beautifully by mclemore who has just been everywhere. he and withey have been the two players that ohio state simply could not account for. >> clark: it won't just be ohio

state that won't be able to account for those two. a migraine match-up for just about every team they face. >> tim: the feathery j time out taken by thad matta. alright, if you're thinkin about gettin' a new truck, you're probably thinkin' about fuel economy. well, you're gonna want some torque to go with it... 'cuz unless you'r usin' your truck to deliver pizza's ... you ain't gettin' anything done without it. torque is power. it pulls trailers. hauls dirt. drags boulders. torque is what gets the cap off your beer. and only the ford f-150 with ecoboost has the best combination of torque and fuel economy. think about that. introducing the new 2013 f-150.

>> tim: tomorrow it's the nfl on cbs. regional action including a game that matters that you will be watching, i know and it all begins with "the nfl today," dan, coach, shannon and boomer on "the nfl today" presented by southwest airlines and obviously, big ben and the steelers taking on the bengals the one that you will be keeping a watchful eye on. >> greg: i am going to have a bit of an interest. >> clark: ohio state, if they can somehow get a stop here and convert, very much right back in it. they'll maximize as much of the shot clock -- >> tim: there is craft doing what he does naturally. >> greg: the defense is giving them a chance. >> clark: exactly. >> tim: smith over the -- was that an over the back? i think it may have been. thad matta is in disbelief. i thought that was a long

rebound. looks like it might be clean but a call that goes the other way, and kansas gets to the freeing line. >> clark: and it is the double bonus for the jayhawks. >> tim: that's right, two shots for young. you could almost see that in that sequence what you were talking about earlier when the shots aren't falling, even deshaun thomas aimed that shot. it wasn't his normal on stroke. >> clark: that's right. that's what happens. you don't see it go in and it's prolonged, it can deflate you in a number of ways. >> tim: very similar to that butler second half in the national championship game a couple years back. they just could not find it. >> clark: traveling on thomas as he tried to rush inside. >> tim: in a lot of ways kansas was a bit of a surprise making

it last year although robinson is an outstanding player seem in your mind as built for this season's final four, don't you think? >> clark: i always start looking at the landscape of who else is out there that could possibly get to atlanta, and when you look at kansas they're one of the top four or five candidates to be there. clearly. >> greg: it's interesting also you look at kansas you could argue they're want as talented but i say it all the time. you don't win with the best players, you win with the five that play best together and this group from a chemistry standpoint has an understanding of why they win and that's something as a coach you feel confident about because he trusts that they're going to make the right decision as the game progresses. >> tim: it helps when your senior leader, a guy like travis releford is as unselfish as he is, and a guy like withey is as unselfish as he is mclemore in terms of outright talent is likely the best player on the floor, and he's impacted so much

by these complementary seniors as you look at the upcoming schedule they have and the temple game will be on cbs. temple beating syracuse today. khalif wyatt off the charts with 33. >> clark: i think he went for 33. >> tim: denying boeheim has 903rd win. craft well defended, nothing easy and the free throw show continues with 61 sektdz left after the foul by amir -- 61 seconds left after the foul by amir williams, his fourth, this is a big ten conference that is easily the best in the country, don't you think? without a doubt, it's got to be the best league in america. >> clark: on paper it looks that way. i don't see any reason why that would change as we get into january, you look at illinois, michigan indiana michigan

state, iowa a cruisible going through that frns can. >> tim: name a league that has three point guards playing better than burke, craft or paul of illinois. you can't go too deep into any conference to find better point guards. >> clark: you really can't. >> tim: scott almost stripped by releford. smith from downtown. craft from downtown. he rams it home. an eight-point game. 44 ticks left. sales are at an all-time low! but kissing is at an all-time high! i want answers! ♪ ♪ oh. right. kay. [ female announcer ] it's true every kiss does begin with kay. where you can save up to 30% on these diamond fashions. at kay, the number-one

jewelry store in america. ♪ ♪ ohhhh. right. ♪ every kiss begins with kay ♪ >> tim: tomorrow on "the cbs sports spectacular" it's a look toward the 2013 season plus highlights of 2012 including racing freestyle and a recap of monster jam world finals and monster jam path of destruction events. "date with destruction." as you look at our game reset. yes, kansas is in the double bonus but no it really hasn't helped. they're 12 of 22 and that's helping ohio state hang around. >> greg: big picture too, clark, that's one of the areas you've got to be concerned because as you move further along with the tournament, you have to have the ability to make those free throws.

>> tim: the jayhawks have missed four free throws in the last minute and 43 seconds and were forced to call time out when they could not get the ball inbounded a moment ago.

>> tim: have to foul, and they do johnson. we talked about the big ten and how strong a conference it is at the top. michigan -- thing that impresses me most about them is john beilein is coaching differently this very athletic team. and how about the way tubby smith's team and tom izzo's have come along, not to mention coach groce in illinois and michigan state a big win against texas earlier. >> greg: we don't even mention indiana, number one in the country preseason. up until that terrific game you got to see firsthand what a performance by butler. brad stevens continues to get his guys to believe no matter who they face. >> clark: they do what they do and they are very comfortable in their skin and that's one of the qualities of any championship-caliber team as, again, you talk about today, understanding and accepting and embracing your roles understanding how it is that we win, and then being able to go

out and do it no matter whether you're home or on the road nice road win it looks like for the jayhawks, plus 10, only 41 second to go. >> tim: clark, what do you think thad matta is learning today about the chemistry and the style of play he's going to need to employ for ohio state to compete with these guys? >> clark: he clearly knows they're best when the pace is fast and they're able to disrupt the opponents defensively to create open-court opportunities. >> tim: ross gets the lay-up. >> clark: the other aspect he knows he's going to have to continue to get post presence and amir williams showing himself well in that regard and this game is still about putting the ball in the basket and you have to be able to do that with some consistency. >> tim: aaron craft's pressure forced another turnover. >> greg: he also knows that most teams don't have mclemore and withey. as he goes to the conference.

>> tim: again a reminder. tonight on cbs begins with new back-to-back episodes of "made in jersey" plus "48 hours" tonight only cbs, plus merry christmas, happy new year to both of you. >> clark: and to you, tim, and your lovely ladies. >> greg: and our entire production crew and everybody watching. happy holidays. >> clark: merry and blessed christmas wishes to all.

>> tim: and the road to the final four is officially here, and the guys in the truck, everyone that's involved in our coverage throughout the course of the year from all the -- >> greg: happy hanukkah, happy kwanzaa. we get them all. i like to be specific sometimes. i like to give a little personal love. >> tim: you cannot say that enough. does this mean i've got to pick up the check again next week? >> greg: yeah of course. [laughing] >> greg: i thought you knew. >> tim: there is thomas. a well designed play to get an open three for their best perimeter shooter but sadly that's been the tone of the entire second half and thomas with an air ball. >> greg: oftentimes you see a team consistently miss these open shots. a lot of shooting has to do with rhythm and defensively kansas has disrupted the timing and the spacing for ohio state this

entire game so they've never felt comfortable making jump shots from the perimeter. >> tim: jamari traylor at the free-throw line. here is the ohio state schedule and, of course, they take on all comers and in a league that is so strong, after the nonconference game nebraska, at illinois, at purdue. by the way, iowa. how about the job fran mccaffery. he has done an incredible job with the hawkeyes. aaron white, the super soph of that team has had so much to do with their success, everywhere he's been he's been successful more recently siena before taking the job at iowa ross is fouled and that's from three-point range by young. "i love you, but there was no need for that," -- >> clark: what we call a brain-neutral play. he parked it and wasn't thinking. you love his energy but in that

case you basically want to keep the clock moving. you're not interested in seeing it stop at all. >> tim: i don't know of any coach that can be upset with his player and yet love the player as much as bill. know what i mean? i think he got that from eddie sutton i really do. it doesn't last long. usually it involves one quick line and then there is a love pat and we move on. >> clark: that's the way it should be. get your point across, make sure they know you care and get to the next play. >> greg: talk about the mental letdown. for a guy that only takes one field goal the entire game. >> tim: to have the impact he had on bog the offensive and defensive side of the floor. >> tim: how many times did he beat the shot to make an -- deke the shot to make an alley oop? he's got that down to a science.

>> greg: that go back to what you talked about, clark in terms of understanding the role. >> clark: exactly. >> greg: his responsibility is not to score the basketball, oftentimes it's to be a ball movement and a defensive presence. >> clark: i think his greatest attribute is the energy he brings. he's selfless in how he goes about his work. >> greg: i've said it's not about your stats, it's about your impact. and he impacts the game when he takes the floor. >> tim: withey, who had a triple-double in november against san jose state with a double-double today, 10 points, 10 boards and after the free throw make it 11 points and 10 boards. another young man that played very well off the bench.

naadir tharpe. to close it out on. hope that they get the hoop and the harm. shannon scott on a blow-by. that makes it interesting. how about this. >> clark: a two-possession game. there is the bump. then mclemore playing with it -- although it appears that shot might have -- he tipped it in. it may have been too hard. it looked like it was going to be too hard. >> tim: no question, without the deflection it doesn't go in off the window. >> clark: if he knocks this free throw down it's a two-possession game. >> tim: that makes things a little more interesting as thompson comes back onto the floor for thomas. >> greg: i guarantee you bill self is going to be livid because his team mentally checked out the last few minutes. attention to detail is not there, nor the focus. >> tim: thompson with the giveaway foul. his third without any time coming off the clock. >> greg: that to me should be a violation.

i don't think you should be able to foul without the ball being inbounds. that's another one of those areas where you shouldn't be allowed to do that. >> clark: next week you and i are each going to have two rules we would like to discuss if we have room within the game, we'll talk about it. >> tim: that's the least you should get because you get to work with me. right? you should each get to change rules. >> clark: we'll discuss it. we'll make one or two of our peat peeves. -- we'll make one or two of our pet peeves. >> tim: i'll be your humble post as you see withey checking out of the game -- another tremendous performance for the all-america from san diego. that one off craft's hands, but ross launches and again he comes up short, and that should just about do it.

kansas, number eight with a bullet after this win against seventh-ranked ohio state. for clark kellogg and greg anthony, tim brando saying so long from los angeles. >> tim: this has been a presentation of cbs sports. home of the 2013 men's national championship. tonight on cbs. two episodes of "made in jersey" and "48 hours mystery." we'll send you to doug gottlieb in new york with "the road to the final four" after these messages. merry christmas. we'll see you next week in louisville kentucky as we continue on "the road to the final four" here on cbs sports. is your current phone bill? four sixteen seventy six a month! okay, come with me -- we're gonna save you money. with straight talk at walmart, you get unlimited talk, text and data for only $45 a month per phone. would we get the same coverage? same coverage on america's best networks. you saved $146.76 by switching to straight talk. awesome! now you can afford to share your allowance with me. get the season's hottest smartphones like the samsung

galaxy s2 and get straight talk with unlimited data for just $45 a month -- from america's gift headquarters. walmart. ♪ ♪ >> doug: hello, everyone. i'm doug gottlieb. welcome to "the road to the final four, requests the game you just saw, kansas beat ohio

state in columbus. joined by seth davis from "sports illustrated." for the third consecutive time in the sec consecutive season kansas prufsz better than ohio state but this was more impressive because it was on the road with young stud ben mclemore. >> seth: kansas turning the ball over in the first half once they settled down and made it a halfcourt game, ohio state struggled and this is the story for the buckeyes moving forward trying to make aaron craft a jump shooter. that isn't working. quenton ross is nowhere to be found. lenzelle smith had a horrible game. they don't have the second option and it's putting too much pressure on the offense. >> doug: why are you negative? i have to be positive. a mea culpa a couple weeks ago i called kansas the most overrated team in the country along with illinois. you said it was ohio state. good call by you. this is the look of a 21st century program, fifth-year seniors, fourth-year seniors transfers and the emergence of ben mclemore and what bill self

allowed him to do, grow into the role of scorer, kansas a team that's won eight consecutive big 12 titles it looks like they're the favorite to on win number nine. >> seth: no doubt. >> doug: getting you caught up on today's action let's head to madison square garden where the new big east -- >> seth: one of the all time greats. >> doug: jim boeheim fresh off win number 900 going for win number 900 it's almost christmas so we have to have rakeem christmas. >> seth: wyatt 15 for 15 from the foul line. temple getting out on the break. syracuse 19 of 34 from the line. michael carter-williams seven for 15 from the foul line. >> doug: fran dunphy with a fantastic game plan and they executed to a tee, getting the ball inside out against the zone, temple takes down syracuse the orange have their first loss. border war in st. louis.

missouri taking on the surprise team of the big ten. the illini fighting illini. mizzou up three early on. speaking of undefeated teams and an in-state battle, wright state traveling down the road to take on cincinnati and early it was wright state impressive. travis sledge with the hammer. >> seth: cincinnati has had trouble scoring the basketball. first half in this one and first half against xavier they were able to explode. you saw titus rubles with the put-back, and cincinnati, their next game is at new mexico at home and they have to play at pittsburgh. if they can't score the ball better they're going to lose soon. >> doug: they went to the sweet 16 and they have four veteran starters. a team you don't want to play if you're hitting perimeter jump shots. north carolina fresh off the loss on the road, returning home to mighty mcneese state. get-right game as reggie bullock helps them take the lead to get going, then they start hitting

trey after trey. >> seth: they were 13-20 behind the arc, good to see them feeling good. >> doug: bottom right corner they take on unlv, a payback game as rebels come to town. texas traveling without myck kabongo, out 23 games, the ncaa reduced its suspension but they could not stop derrick nix inside, 25 and listen for the big fellow. >> seth: without galen bond their second best player. he's hurt. they got their big guys going, nix a career high 25 points nailing his free throws like gottlieb back in the day. >> doug: stop it, stop it. give me the top three in the big ten. michigan. then who? >> seth: i still think michigan and indiana are on the first tier together in the big ten. i think michigan state and illinois behind. >> doug: georgetown takes down their crosstown rival, mern

american. they scored. they shot the ball well. 47% from three. kentucky. we'll see them next week against louisville. >> seth: ryan harrell. this could be the -- ryan harrow. >> doug: my alma mater time. phil forte the forgotten freshman with 22. he looks and plays like travis ford. marcus smart in the conversation for freshman of the year. new mexico goes down nate walters with 28 points. >> seth: too much nate walters, surprising new mexico could not hold serve at home. >> doug: that will do it for now, for seth davis i'm doug gottlieb. here is a look at what's coming up tonight on cbs. next saturday. "the road to the final four" continues with the bluegrass battle between kentucky and louisville. be sure to tune in tomorrow. the nfl on cbs.

>> doug: for all of us, seth davis, myself and the cast of people behind the scenes have a happy holiday. be safe and we're thinking of you, sandy hook.